The Hindu : New chief for Southern Air Command

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Jan 02, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Kerala-Thiruvananthapuram

New chief for Southern Air Command

By Our Staff Reporter

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM Jan. 1. Air Marshal A.K. Trikha, AVSM VSM, today took over as the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Southern Air Command (SAC).

He replaces Air Marshal T.M.Asthana, PVSM AVSM VM, who has been posted at the head quarters of the Indian Air Force in New Delhi.

On his arrival this morning at the SAC, Air Marshal Trikha was given a ceremonial Guard of Honour by the IAF personnel. At the ceremonial farewell held later, Air Marshal Asthana too was presented with a Guard of Honour just before he left for Delhi to take up the new assignment.

Prior to his present assignment, Air Marshal Trikha was commanding the National Defence Academy (NDA). An alumnus of the

24th course of the NDA, he was commissioned in the IAF in April 1964. He has held a number of command and staff appointments, including the posts of Air Defence Commander in South Western Air Command, Gandhinagar, and Air Officer Commanding, Air Force Station, Ambala.

He has also served as flying instructor abroad, Air Advisor in the High Commission of India, London and Commandant of College of Air Warfare, Secunderabad. For his distinguished services, he was awarded the VSM in 1991 and the AVSM in 1995. During the 1971 Indo- Pak war, he undertook several operational missions in the Western sector and was mentioned in despatches for conspicuous bravery. Air Marshal Trikha is the 13th AOC-in-C of the Southern Air Command, which was formed in 1984.

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